Which New or Nearly New 25' Boat Would You Buy?

[druid]

Personally I would move up to a 30+', but you may be interested in trailering.
...

Another quick push for a slightly larger boat - when one or two people move to one side on a 25 footer - you know it. When they move to one side on a 30 footer you will probably not know it. If someone needs to konk out, they can hide away from the group and sleep. If the kids need space to get away or the other way around - its there.

You will find - (mark my words) that if you really get into sailing and trailering is not your thing, you will move up to a 30+ footer in the long run).
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Spending a pile on a 25 footer makes no sense at all - Buying slightly used makes a ton of sense.

THIS is why there are no decent under-30ft boats any more!

It wasn't too long ago that a Catalina 27 was "the ideal family coastal cruiser", with room for Mom, Dad, and the 2 kids. Now, when anyone asks what boat they should look at to start sailing, the advice is invariably over 30 ft. Really? Were all those folks who cruised in a C27 (or Oday 27, or Sun27, or, God help us, a Crown 28) all nuts? What has changed in 25 years that a boat which was perfectly adequate then is useless now?

As for the Original Question: in the near-new market your choices are almost non-existant. Catalina or Hunter, that's about it - and they're more trailerable daysailors now than decent coastal cruisers. Go 30 years back and your choices are huge: my favourite is a Cal25 - you can't stand up in the cabin, but sitting down (like you do 99% of the time) the cabin is HUGE for a 25. And they're faster than greased lightning...

druid

 

[heart of gold]

One thing for sure, I noticed from friends boats, if the tiller is mounted as far back as possible, there is a ton more room in the cockpit when at rest. I really like the wheel steering on my boat, just wish I could rid of it when not sailing. I will not knock Mac's, as I owned one and had some great trips on it, but it is difficult to sail for the inexperienced. If you love to sail, its not a great option. One thing for sure, if you don't want 2 ft itis, get it over with and get as big a boat as you can afford. We sure have not regretted it, especially on trips more than a day or 2. Cheers

 

[longshot]

I would go with a Catalina 25 or a Hunter...don't get the wheel steering as it takes up too much room in the cockpit and doesn't have the "feel" of a tiller. I had a Catalina 25 for six years and loved it...just got a Hunter 25.5 with wheel steering and I think I am going to put a tiller on it...just too crowded.

 

[Sumner]

......... I will not knock Mac's, as I owned one and had some great trips on it, but it is difficult to sail for the inexperienced.....

Which Mac did you have? I hate to see them all linked together as over the years there have been a number of different models from 17 feet on up to the different 26 footers. We have a 1990 26S (not a motor sailer) and had never sailed in our lives and went out with no training and found the boat very easy to learn on.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trips-1/04-09-McPhee.html

... once we put the jib up and would not hesitate to recommend any Mac before the powersailers to a new owner. I would agree that the power sailors are harder to sail but that is not from personal experience on one,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[George H260]

You don't have to settle for an inboard to get wheel steering. There are several options in this size. The newer Hunter and Mac have wheel steering. Also the Hunter 260 has wheel steering.

Go to: http://h260.com for an example

 

[RECESS]

I really like how almost everyone is recommending their boat. I love my O'Day, but that is just because it suits my needs....actually my wife's needs. It is roomy and slow. When I am asked this question, I always say it is really hard to beat Catalina's history of making boats in this size. Too many other manufacturers have put out questionable boats in their history in this size.

 

[Sumner]

I really like how almost everyone is recommending their boat. I love my O'Day, but that is just because it suits my needs....actually my wife's needs............

That is the best advice on here so far. A person has to figure out what "their needs" are. For us I haven't seen a better boat to meet "our" needs. Now if we lived nearer a large body of water we might have a different set of needs and the boat choice might change.

We have two small lakes within 5 minutes of the house with one about 1 mile long and the other 2/3's of a mile long. Too small to enjoy the 26 foot boat in, so we are looking for a second boat to maybe just use here so we could go out for a day sail any time. We really like the Mac/Venture 17, but would look at others. The Mac 26S will be with us probably until we quit sailing ,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[jibes138]

Sum,
Hunter makes a 14 footer I think that looks like a nice lake boat and drier than a sunfish. If you want to build a beautiful boat look at the Arch Davis designed Penobscot 17 or 14....both are awesome boats that row great and sail great. I built the 11 foot sand dollar and had a blast doing it. You seem to be pretty handy and could easily have a boat you could be really proud of building. A table saw did most of the work, you get to be a real artist with one of those.

 

[RECESS]

Sum,

Have you looked at the West Wright Potters? They are more stout than a Venture. My friend owns avery nice Venture 222 and a club mate owns a Potter 19. The Potter is very nice and interior is actually much more usable than the 222. I have never seen a West Wright Potter 15 but I have read they are great little boats. The 19 is great for weekends.

Potter 19

Potter 15

 

[Sumner]

Sum,
Hunter makes a 14 footer I think that looks like a nice lake boat and drier than a sunfish. If you want to build a beautiful boat look at the Arch Davis designed Penobscot 17 or 14....both are awesome boats that row great and sail great. I built the 11 foot sand dollar and had a blast doing it. You seem to be pretty handy and could easily have a boat you could be really proud of building. A table saw did most of the work, you get to be a real artist with one of those.

Thanks for the suggestion, but we have already decided that we will pay a little more for this boat, just so that it is complete and ready to go. I have some other projects like my race car that I have to get back to .

..........I have never seen a West Wright Potter 15 but I have read they are great little boats. ..

Potter 15

The Potter 15 looks like something we might be interested in. We probably won't overnight in the boat, but could if we took it to one of the lakes a little further away. We would like a small cabin though and are looking for a boat we could go out in here in the spring and fall when it is cooler, so want to stay dry in it. Just something to be out on the water and sail a little and maybe fish some.

Here is the Venture 17......

.... and a link to an old sales brochure.........................

http://oday.sailboatowners.com/components/com_mtree/attachment.php?link_id=7679&cf_id=24

They seem to be nice boats also and are suppose to be pretty stable. We want something that will launch easy as the ramps are not great at these lakes.

Thanks for the suggestions,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[RECESS]

My friend's Venture 222 is really easy to launch. The flat bottom and light keel concern me.